Judge Susan C. Rodriguez set a nine‑day trial for the Joe Gibbs Racing versus Chris Gabehart and Spire Motorsports lawsuit, beginning February 1, 2027.
Key Parties and Allegations
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) alleged that former crew chief Chris Gabehart took confidential data when he left the team to join Spire as Chief Motorsports Officer. Spire countersued JGR, claiming the use of proprietary information during the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series. Both parties deny the charges and have met the counter‑claims. Although JGR has not yet produced conclusive evidence, Judge Rodriguez accepted that Gabehart initially misappropriated the data and that he subsequently returned all that was taken.
Discovery Timeline and Motion Schedule
- Rule 26 disclosures – July 27, 2026
- Substantial document production – August 17, 2026
- Amendment of pleadings – August 24, 2026
- Joinder of other parties – August 24, 2026
- Opening expert reports – September 14, 2026
- Rebuttal expert report – September 28, 2026
- Fact discovery completion – August 31, 2026
- Expert discovery completion – October 15, 2026
- Mediation report – October 23, 2026
- Dispositive motions filing – October 30, 2026
- Trial date – February 1, 2027 (nine days)
The court has already ruled that it believes the data was taken without proven intent to deceive Spire, yet the upcoming trial will decide how each side’s evidence measures against the other. The case moves forward on a tightly packed calendar, setting the stage for a concise yet consequential hearing into the interchange of trade secrets within NASCAR’s competitive arena.
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